(Schooner, 181 grt, built 1848)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Seaman
  • Gross Register Tonnage: 181 grt
  • Built: 1848
  • Final voyage: Stranded in a storm on November 15, 1908, carrying “slabs and 3,000 bu potatoes.” [Lake Michigan’s Death’s Door, off Pilot Island]
  • Outcome: Driven ashore by a gale, wrecked; her age made salvage impractical; later “went to pieces” with no survivors among six crew.

Vessel Type

A mid-19th-century wooden Schooner, typical of 2‑masted regional cargo vessels frequently used on the Great Lakes.

Description & History

  • Age at loss (1908): 60 years—remarkably long-lived for an operational wooden Schooner.
  • Cargo: Transporting slabs and a full load of potatoes (~3,000 bushels).
  • Route: Sailing through Death’s Door (Straits of Mackinac), likely from Wisconsin to Chicago or nearby Great Lakes ports.
  • Crew: Six aboard; none survived.

Incident Details

On November 15, 1908, Seaman was caught in a powerful storm which drove her onto an outer shoal south of Pilot Island, where she became a Total Loss (m.facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, us-data.org). Contemporary wind conditions likely produced sudden gale-force winds and waves typical of late-season November storms in that area.

Final Disposition

  • Wrecking: Driven ashore, broke apart.
  • Salvage: None—vessel declared too old and too damaged.
  • Casualties: All six crew perished; no bodies recorded rescued.

Archival Gaps & Next Steps

  • Construction records: Not found in BGSU database or 19th-century vessel lists—likely private build.
  • Ownership: May be traceable via ship registries or insurance ledgers circa 1908.
  • Crew identities: Not yet identified—search through Green Bay Press-Gazette, Milwaukee Sentinel, and Door County Advocate editions from late Nov 1908.
  • Wreck documentation: No dive surveys or precise wreck coordinates found—site likely shallow and dispersed.

Recommended research:

  • Newspaper reports (late Nov 1908) from Manitowoc, Green Bay & Door County archives.
  • Maritime accident listings & Lloyd’s casualty logs for 1908.
  • Insurance and port-loss records filed under Milwaukee or regional underwriters.
  • Pilot Island lighthouse logs from November 1908—likely to mention vessel stranding.

Conclusion

Seaman exemplifies a durable yet ultimately vulnerable wooden Schooner whose end was sealed by a late-season gale in the notorious Death’s Door passage. The complete loss of her small crew underscores the perilous nature of Great Lakes freight sailing in autumn. While wreck segments may remain near Pilot Island, absence of formal salvage or dive records highlights the opportunity for archaeological survey.